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letters
A voice from Idaho
To the Editor
I am a 16-year-old male. I live in a small town.
It’s friendly here, to a point. I’m obsessed with a
blond Danish boy here, and I think he’s starting to
realize it. Maybe it’s the sexual comments I write
to him in German. He speaks German.
My peers know I’m “gay.” Well, I decided
that I refuse to be labeled as gay. A label means
you have to be something, or display a certain
presence! I like men, but hey I’m not necessarily
gay. I try to be happy too.
As for the sexual advertisements in your maga-
zine-the reason I began to write-1 say, “Great,
who cares?”
They bring you money and an opportunity for
people, who often have a hard time finding others,
a chance to do so. Anyone who is offended
should, by all means, not call the fantasy phone
lines, or hire a male stripper.
Well, I live far away from you. I’m not some
lost soul in a hick town. I’m sad sometimes, but
more often I’m happyj Too bad I can’t pick up
any more copies of your newspaper. Maybe my
sweet friend from Battleground will pick up some
more.
Ted Burton
Idaho
Heartfelt applause!
To the Editor:
I simply have to write and tell you how much
I admire your fine publication. I have to sit down
and express my appreciation for the consistently
high level of writing and reporting in Just Out
through the years. How many times have I grinned,
chuckled and laughed out loud over some outra
geously funny item reported in various news
“briefs.” How much pleasure your editorials and
reviews have given me! How proud I am every
time a new issue comes out! It is like a monthly
purgative-I feel cleansed and rejuvenated and
inspired by the courage, hard work, intelligence
and humor of lesbians and gay men fighting
everywhere for justice and dignity.
I still remember the May 1991 issue with the
pictures and stories of Chief Tom Potter and his
daughterOfr. Katie Potter. The message of equal
ity and dignity came through loud and clear. I’m
glad to live in a city with such an enlightened and
sensitive Chief of Police. I was impressed with
the January 1992 issue, with its “look back” at
1991 ’s accomplishments, but especially “Voices
Within Speak Out.” “Voices” featured the inspir
ing photoportraits and stories of gay men and
lesbians of many different ethnic, religious and
age groups, giving us proof positive of the vast
cultural diversity and richness of our lesbian and
gay community. Thanks for reminding us! The
March 1992 Just Out is to be commended for its
discussion of domestic violence, a topic many
would rather “sweep back into the closet.” Every
month I appreciate the consistent tracking of the
benighted OCA and its hate-filled tactics.
I’m rather tired of hearing so many gay men in
this town dismiss Just Out az merely “that lesbian
paper.” Frankly, I always find much to interest
me as a gay man, and I think there is a real effort
made to cover both men’s and women’s issues. I
remember when Jay Brown was editor, he men
tioned to me how much effort went into balancing
gay male and lesbian material. I haven’t noticed
any change of editorial policy regarding this since
he and Philip Anderson died [I want to honor the
memory of both these brave and wonderful men].
Renée LaChance’s self-admitted efforts to
unlearn racism are commendable-would that we
could all publicly and honestly confess past trans
gressions in that area and then get on with the
business of demonstrating our commitment, as
she has.
I suppose I’ll throw myself into the fray over
the ads situation. After so many pious and deadly
serious opinions pro and con, I roared with laugh
ter over Lou Miles’s comment: “As for the phone
sex ads: I don’t think they are offensive. I think
they are boring." I agree. They’re certainly not to
my taste, and I find the idea of phone sex with a
stranger not so much demeaning, as just rather
meaningless (i.e., unfulfilling). However, having
an extended and intimate phone coversation with
someone I love or know well in which an erotic
element develops that gives sexual release is not
at all offensive to me. And in this age of AIDS,
phone sex (between consenting adults) is cer
tainly safe and non-violent. I cannot speak for
how the ads of scantily clad men would appear to
lesbians; but if those pages offend you, simply
don’t open them. They do help to finance a fine-
quality publication that many of us would not
otherwise be able to buy every month. I dare say
that whether Just Out has phone sex ads or not will
little influence the OCA’s campaign of hatred and
disinformation. That organization is so mired in
darkness that they’d overlook all the positive and
uplifting humanistic news the magazine reports
anyway.
Socarryon and keep up the good work. Here’s
heartfelt applause to you all at Just Out.
Jim Anctil
Portland
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Moving forward in unity
To the Editor:
I generally do not write letters to the editor in
response to letters written by other readers. Mr.
Baggadonutz’s letter, published in your March
edition under the title “Who needs the OCA?,
however, impelled me to respond to his criticism
of two other readers.
In Mr. Baggadonutz’s letter, he characterizes
two women’s statements concerning some of Just
Out's advertising as indicative of a “holier-than-
thou” attitude, and then proceeds to ask these two
apparently benighted (at least in his opinion)
souls the rhetorical question, “Who needs the
OCA?,” when you’re around and part of the gay
and lesbian community.
Well, Mr. Baggadonutz, Ms. Sherman, Ms.
Brown, and the OCA are clearly not the only ones
with an obvious talent for ranting as self-ap
pointed “Moral Guidians” of this or any commu
nity. Your snidely sanctimonious comments about
diversity and tolerance have fallen on at least one
pair of deaf ears, your own! “Politically correct”
intolerance of other people’s views is still intoler
ance and is hurtful to the development of any true
sense of community.
What I found truly ironic was the sarcastic
indignation directed at an assumed attempt at
censorship of gay male sexuality, coupled with an
apparent slight directed at lesbian eroticism;
sounds vaguely sexist to me.
Can anything productive come of such belit
tling of one another's viewpoints? I don’t think
so! The gay movement is nothing if not a celebra
tion of the beauty of every individual who is a part
of it. It’s time we moved beyond infantile insinu
ation and ridiculous name calling. How are we to
move forward if not in unity that also celebrates
its diversity?
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